Reenforced bracing member for aircraft



5. C. BOULTON REENFORCED BRACING MEMBER FOR AIRCRAFT Feb. 1 1926.

Filed June 27. 1923 INVENTOR 5. 655 0a Z Z (n ATT NEY QQQQ QVQDQPatented Feb. 16, 1926.

, UNITED STATES! BEBTHOUD C. BOUL'I'OI T, OIL DAYTON, OHIO.

PATENT OFFICE.

BEENFORC ED BBACING MEMBER'EQR AIRCRAFT.

Application filed June 27, 1923. Serial No.;648,053.

and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inReenforced Bracing Members for Aircraft, of which the following isa'specification.

This invention relates to reenforced plywood construction as applied toan aircraft brace or stress member and more particularly to a rib memberfor airplanewings which is constructed in this manner. I

The prime object of my invention is to provide a reenforced .sheet ofplywood to define the contour of the wing which is reenforced by stripsof wood attached thereto without the necessity of employmgany fitt'ngsorsocket members.

Further objects will be more fully set forth in the attachedspecification and claims and in the drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a rib member,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of my improved rib member.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by reference numerals, a ribdesignated generally by the numeral 10 is constructed of a sheet ofplywood 11', which extends vcontinuously from the upper to the lowerextreme portions of the finished, .rib and forms the main backbone ofthe structure. A strip of wood'12, is attached to the side of the sheetof plywood-and extends con tinuously around the edge of this sheet ofplywood, the outer portions of 'both sheets being flush so that both thestrip 12 and the sheet 11 define the cross-sectional contour oi theWing. A second strip 13 is" provided on the opposite side of the sheet11. I

Diagonally extending between the upper and lower portions of the strip12 are a plurality of diagonally extendin enforcing truss members 14,each of which consists of a strip of wood 15 and a second strip 16 whichtogether define a pair of reenforcing members one on each side, andattached to the strip 11 and extending between the parts of strips 12and strips 13 so as to rigidify the entire structure by reenforcin thesheet 11 and by bracing strips 12 an 13. The portions of the sheet 11which are between strips 12 and 14 are cut away so as to form holes 17so as to remove surplus material to make the structure lighter.

The different strips which reenforce the .sheet 11 may be attached tothis sheet 11 b glue or by small nails such as 18, or by hot of thesemeans. It will therefore be understood that I have provided a rib memberwhich is exceedingly light and yet exceptionally strong and is at thesame time very easily constructed, as no special fittings or socketmembers are required to join the reenforcing members together.

I claim:

A structural rib for airplane wings comprising a sheet of plywooddefining the sectional contour of the airplane wing, strips of wood ofsmall cross-sectional' area attached to the upper and lower edges at thesides of said sheet and flush with the outline of said sheet to alsodefine the sectional contour of the airplane wing, a plurality ofreenforcing strips of wood extending "diagonally between said upper andlower edges and attached in pairs directly to said plywood sheet, onopposite sides thereof, said plywood sheet being cut away between saiddiagonally extending strips whereby a rigid truss is provided withoutthe use of fitting members.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

BERTHOUD QFUULTON.

